Bedspring



ffm Bm? AVAHABLE Gew @Mami E, H. swlTzER BEDSPRING F115@ Nov. 2, 41920 '2K shams-sheet 1 I N VEN TOR A TTORN E Y.

LAASAZE 2, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 E. H. SWITZER BEDSPRING Filed Nov.

Maf.. 13, 1923."

INVENToR. i620 fsw/725x? ATToRNEY.

Patented lidar. lf3, lQ-.

UNTE@ ERLO H. SVVITZER, OF MOBERLY, MISSOURI.

BEDSPRIN Gr.

Application fnea november 2, 1920. serial no. f121,222.

To `all whom t 'may concern:

VBe it known that l, Enno H. Swrrznn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moberly, in the county of Randolph and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedsprings, of which the followingis a specification.

This `invention relates to new and useful improvements in bed springs, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of this nature, which will adapt itself I to the curves of the body reposing thereon, and one wherein the head portion thereof will be elevated with respect to the other portions ofthe spring when the weight of a patient is disposed ,upon the springs.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a bed spring including surface lengths, the ends of whiclrare capable of inward movement relative to the spring to cause loosening of the bed lengths rendering them pliable and adaptable to the curves `of a body whose weight is disposed thereon.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide means for lresiliently resisting inward movement of the surface length, in order to :insure the bed springs with a certain degree of resiliency.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bed spring having head and footl portions capable of being arranged in an elevated position with respect to the body portion of the spring, and provide means whereby only the head portion will be disposed in such relation when the weight of a patient is disposed upon the spring in the ordinary manner thereby permitting the foot portion of the spring to be disposed in approximately the same plane with the body portion thereof.

Other objects and advantagesof the in"- vention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings, I have shown an embodiment of my invention, which is at present preferred but it is to beA understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts shown, and that I may resortfto various'changes in the construction,arrangement and combination ofthe various parts'of the invention to be hereinafter describedA and set forth in the "appended claims. Y

irthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of the application andgwherein like numerals are employed to `designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation of lmy improved bed spring. l

kFigure 2 is a top plan of the same,lparts thereof being broken away.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure d is an enlarged fragn'ientary,lon gitudinal section of one of the side rails.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan of the same, and

Figure 6 is transverse section of the same.

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 7 designates a bed spring supporting` frame in its i entirety, and which consists of a pair of longitudinal spaced parallel side rails 8, the ends of which pass through clamping elements 9. Each clamping element consists of a pair of plates l0. each of which is provided with a pair of right angular-ly disposed sockets ll, intersecting between their ends, and extending through the ends of the plates. rlhese plates areclamped together by means of screws l2 threaded through the web portions of the plates be tween the sockets. The ends of the side rails 8 are extended through and beyond the clamping element, where they are provided with enlargement i3. The terminal 14- of each side rail is enlarged and flattened laterally to provide a bearing surface for an upright bearing l5. The lower end of each bearing is provided with a vertical threaded opening into which externos the shank of a screw 16 which is passed thro-ugh an aperture in the terminal 1.4i for securing the bearing thereto. f

The supporting frame, or structure. also includes endfrails 17, the ends of which. are extendecv into the inner end of the transversely extended sockets ll. of the clamping elements and are retained therein by tightening the screws l2. ln the outerend 18 of ea-chtransversely arranged socket, I clamp a self-contained spring socket pin or plunger 19, which isnormally forced outwardly of the frame in order to co-operate with suitable socketsin the bedside rails for mounting the supporting frame upon the bed.

Each bearing 15 is provided with an opening which entends transversely ofjthe bed spring,'and a 'shaft or 'axle 2() iS-journaled llll in each pair of bearings at each end of the bed spring to extend transversely thereof. The ends of each `shaft 20, as most clearly seenin Figure 3, are extended beyond the bearings 15 where they lare screw threaded to receive thereon upstandingv arms 21. Theupper ends 22 of these arms are curved outwardly of the ends of the frame, after which each arm is loffset inwardly of the frame to be secured by means of bolts 23 to theends of end rails 24 forming part of `al the other side marginal member. In order to establish the joints, each side marginal member consists of a body section 28 and two end-sections 29 which are joined to the bodyv section by a resilient strip 30. Each section has its longitudinal' edges bent inwardly to be disposed in slightly spaced relation to the underface of the section, whereby a channel is formed `n the section for receiving a part of the resilient bar or strip 30. As mostl clearly seen in Figure `5,

'the longitudinal bent edges ofthe section embrace the longitudinal edges of the resilient 'strip 30 in order to retain the same .in engagement with the section and toprevent displacement of the strip. A bolt 3l is extended through the end of each section adjacent the joints 27, and through the resilient strip 30 for securely fastening the same to the end of the section adjacent the joints/27. Of course, in practice, the ends vof the section adjacent the joints will terminate short of one another whereby two sections maymove relatively atan angle and flex the resilient strip at'the joint. The ends 32 of. each resilient strip 30- are secured between the corresponding ends of the end marginal members 24, and the free end of a i pair of the arms 22 by means of the bolt 23 extending through openings inthe end of the strip.

A plurality of surface lengths 33. in the present instance, being chains, are secured on vopposite ends to the end marginal inembers 24 and spacedtherealong, so'that the surface lengths will extend longitudinally of the surface structure in spaced paralleled relation. f The surface 'lengths' are maintained in spaced relation between theirends by .transversely extending coiled springs 34 connecting the same and the outermost lengths-tothe sidemarginal members'28.

ln order to cause surfacev lengths 33 to flex in a line with the oppositelydisposed joint 27'at the end of the surface structure, cross bars 35 extend .transversely of the structure 4and overlap the 4surface lengths, while the ends of each cross bar are secured to the side marginal members 2,6 by one pair of the bolts n 3l arranged adjacent the joint 27.

kA draw-bar 36 is arranged centrally of the bed spring between the surface structure and the supporting frame to `extend longi-` tudinally thereof, and each end of the drawbar is provided with a T-shaped head 37, the endsv of whichare apertured to receive therein the hooked ends of coiled springs 38. The opposite ends of these coiled springs 38 are also hookedV and fastened to hooks- 39 connected to apertured dependingfpor-k tions 40 of the arms 22.2 These ysprings 38y 'extendfrr'im the hooks 39 at an angle to the side members 3 of the supporting frame as clearly shown in Figure 2,l Relativelyshort j coiled springs 41 have one end connected to each hook 39 and itsopposite end 'hooked into an aperture 42 in each clamp-ing element 9, so'that these springs 41'and 38 nor` mally urge the varms 21 outwardly of the ends of the frame to retain the surface element 33 ina taut condition.

To: further assist liny urgingthe arms 21 outwardly ofthe ends ofthe frameand to resist the-inward movement of the end rails 24,. when a 4weight is positioned upon the surface lengths 33, an .inverted U-shaped arm 43 'is secured to each shaft or, axle 20 by the latter passing through the parallel legs of the arms between their ends. The

arch of each arm 43 isfsecured by a bolt 44 y, to the intermedia-teportion of its adjacent end marginal member 24, and a transversely extendingl rod 45 extends through .the free ends of the legsl of each arm whereby corresponding ends of a pair of coiledsprings 46 may be fastened to the rod, while the opl" vposite corresponding` ends of these springs are hooked in an aperture provided intermediate the end of thelend rail 17 of the sup porting frame. The ends of each lrod 45` are x extended beyondA the legs of eachar'm 43v r and are loopedl whereby correspondingends f a pair ofsprings 47 may be fastened to the ends, `while the opposite vends ofL these springs areconnected to the apertured end of the 'l'.shaped head 37 `at an-end lof the draw-bar 36. Y

From the .foregoing description, it will 4be apparent that wheny aperson lies upon the surface structure, theV joint 2`7 -adjacent his shoulder will be caused to flex' downwardly,

due to the fact thatthe heaviest portionv of the body is arranged. nearer the upper portion thereof; The jointv 2.7 adjacent the patients feet will knot be'affect'ed, due tothe fact that there is veryl little` weight uponthe lower end lfof vthe surface. structure.

TWhen the joints adjacent the head of the bed Hex, and weight is imposed upon the body portion of the surface structure, the arms 2l and 43 will be caused to move inwardly toward the center of the bed spring due to the fact that they are pivotally mounted by the shaft L The ends of the surface length 33 will be caused to move inwardly due to a corresponding movement of the end marginal members 24:, and consequently the surface lengths will become loosened so that they readily conform to the curves of a body resting thereupon. As the upper ends of the arms 22 and 43 move inwardly toward the center of the bed spring theiiI lower ends move outwardly thereof, and consequently tension the coiled springs connected to these arms whereby the surface structure is resiliently supported. As the resilient strips are weaker than the combined tension or strength of the coiled springs, it will be seen that the body portion of the surface structure will be disposed lower than the head portion and the latter will be slightly inclined when the weight of a person is disposed upon the surface structure. Consequently, the head portion comfortably supports the head of a person reposing upon the bed spring in a slightly higher elevation than if the party rested upon an ordinary flat bed spring.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the approved or preferred form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A bed spring comprising a frame, a mattress sup oorting structure disposed thereabove, enc marginal members therefor being capable of inward movement of the spring, a transverse shaft at each end of the frame, an arm mounted on the ends of each shaft and connected to the end marginal members of the mattress supporting structaire, an intermediate armmounted on each shaft between its shaft and comprising an inverted U-shaped member, the bridge portion of each member being secured to its respective end marginal member for supporting the intermediate portion thereof, a draw bar, and springs connected to the ends thereof and to said arms for resisting the inward movement ofthe ends of said Structure.

2. A bed comprising a supporting frame including side and end rails, clamps for connecting the said side and end rails together, the ends of the side rails being extended beyond the end rails, upright bearings detachably connected to thek extended ends of the side rails, a shaft journaled through the pair of bearings at each end of the frame and having its ends extended beyond the bearings and screw threaded, an upstanding arm threaded on the free end of each shaft, a mattress supporting structure detachably secured to theupright arms, and springs connecting the arms and frame.

3. A bed spring including side marginal members each composed of sections relatively movable, each section comprising a channel member, and a resilient strip fast-- ened in the channels of said sections and adapted to bridge the sections of each side marginal member.

4. A bed spring comprising n a surface structure, the end marginal members thereof being capable of inward movement, a transverse shaft at each end of said structure, arms connected to the ends of said shaft and connected to the end rails, a draw-bar, and springs connected to the ends thereof, and to said arms for resisting the inward movement of the ends of said structure.

5. A bed spring comprising side marginal members, yielding joints therein, end rails connected to said side marginal members, flexible surface lengths connecting the end marginal members, and a cross bar overlap ing the surface lengths and having its en s secured to the side marginal members adjacent the joints therein. f

6. A bed spring comprising side marginal members having yielding joints therein, end marginal members, spaced flexible surface lengths connecting the end marginal members, and a transverse cross strip connected to oppositely disposed sections of the side rails and arranged to overlap the surfacelengths. f

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

ERLO H. SWITZER. Witnesses v G. O. PERRY, E. H. LOTTER. 

